Bad Towns (Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Union: real estate, school district, college)

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

Being amongst illegals when you work is one thing. But would you want to live in that apt (that John posted pics of) where he used to live? Would you want your young daughters walking by these cat calling men? Would you want your young daughters coming home and having to make their way through a congregation of of drunken men? I ask this seriously b/c I think it's easy to say, "I don't mind" when not personally in the situation. When your quality of life goes downhill, your and your family's safety becomes at risk and your property value plumments, I can't imagine "not minding", "live and let live" and that "people are people" at that point. I really feel for John. None of the pics he posted say to me "Invest your money here". JMO

No way, who would want their children to deal with that? Whether they're illegals or anybody else, there's no question. I, of course, don't have kids and am probably the wrong guy to ask about the apartment. I actually lived in a place upstate that was so crappy we had homeless people squatting on the first floor. It didn't bother me...what were they gonna do, kill me? I realize most folks are terrified of their own shadow, so consider my perspective unique.

That said, you can live in Westbury and never have to walk on Post Avenue, which is what I think a lot of people do. I haven't walked around there as much as John has, but when I have I've never seen crowds of rowdy illegal aliens causing problems. The only reason those pictures say "don't invest money here" to me is because I know that most people will freak out over something retarded like a Spanish language club flier taped to a utility pole. Terrifying. VillageOfWestbury says that crime is low, I have no reason to believe otherwise from what I've experienced there myself. At the absolute worst, you can say that some parts of Westbury are a hangout for illegal aliens. Is that the absolute most horrible thing you can imagine? I can think of much worse. Considering that the character, demographic and socioeconomic makeup of Westbury as a whole hasn't shifted much in the last ten years either, I guess the people who actually live there aren't shook that easily.

Originally Posted by VillageOfWestbury

I've driven through parts of Levittown that look like a step up from a trailer park. My impression was that it looked run-down and low rent. I'm sure; however, there are nicer sections and so I don't paint a one-sided picture. I've also driven through Wantagh and Massapequa and I didn't find anything there that made me feel like "Wow this is a step-up."

Absolutely true, and I live here. Levittown in the 80s and 90s was full of all sorts of white trash. There were abandoned houses and Camaros on lawns everywhere. It's really improved considerably, but I don't think it's a step up from Westbury at all aside from the schools. As for crime? For absolutely no reason at all, one of my friends was beaten so badly by local kids on Hempstead Turnpike that his skull was fractured and he now has two metal plates in his face. When they put those DWI ads up that incorporated cars involved in fatal wrecks, kids from Division rolled that thing over and burnt it right in the middle of the street (same thing happened in Massapequa). I know plenty of people who have been robbed, homes that have been burglarized and the drugs? Don't even get me started. There are 5-10 Hispanics waiting for the bus at the stop around the block from me every day at any given hour, and "racing bikes" up and down Jerusalem & Wantagh Avenue all day....am I freaking out? No, because the same thing happens everywhere and it's nothing compared to real problems. This is Nassau County, the safest region in America. If I was a politician, my campaign slogan would be "grow a pair".

The big change in Levittown & North Wantagh came when the schools improved considerably. Maybe the same will happen for Westbury? Despite what iluvmycuties said, these areas have no autonomy of their own and are at the mercy of the Town of Hempstead and Town of Oyster Bay entirely. There's nothing stopping any illegal aliens from living here, they just don't yet. It's a great place to live, but I could walk around and take the same pictures here that John did in Westbury.

[nancy thereader]

Some of you may not understand why I dislike illegals so much. Maybe it's because I dealt with living in a building infested with them.

John. I know how angry you must be to see your own town taken over by outsiders , but please use a term other than "infested". These are people, after all. Have you ever tried to get to know any of them as people ? I am not saying to invite them to dinner, but just to say "hello".

[iluvmycuties]

Sean,

Are you suggesting that these towns that were mentioned (Wantagh, etc) are at risk of an illegal problem? Do you really think it is just a matter of time before these towns do face these issues? I don't think it is ever going to happen.

[iluvmycuties]

Nancy,


I think John did say "hi" to one of them; hence, the peeing in the pants picture.

[Redd Jedd]

Originally Posted by sean sean sean sean

Yup, north of the parkway and west of Post Avenue...nicest parts of Westbury, in my opinion. I also do like Post Avenue, though, and think the Village has done a pretty good job improving it. I see tons of Hispanics when I come through there, are they illegal? Maybe, maybe not....in either case, it just doesn't bother me. Like I said before, I've worked with a lot of people who illegally entered this country from Central/South America and whether they want to live here or in Guadalajara I could care less. I don't want to pay income tax either and I wouldn't if I knew I could get away with it. People are people, whatever...I say let them live and pee their pants and do whatever silly foolishness their hearts desire. I've found that most people just keep to themselves, wherever they're from, and never had any problems walking Post night or day. A more politically correct answer probably would have been "all Latinos are hard working" but I think that's just as ignorant as saying they're all slobs, and I don't think it's true....but most are, and most just want a better life for their families like all of us who were born here.

If you go into New Cassel, Union is a huge spot for day worker pickups. It gets a little ridiculous over there, having that many people on a residential street, but I think most in Westbury are either hangin out, going to work or waiting for a bus. You will find the same thing in Wantagh and Levittown, though in less numbers. The future of Nassau County is not a white one. The only choices are to adapt or move and I'm staying as long as I can afford it. I love it here and will be eating empanadas down at the pupuseria while all my old neighbors are hiding down in North Carolina.

Sean, I see John's point. Although the dowtown area of Westbury may look nice because of zoning laws dictating facades and signage, the people issue is still evident. If you go to any of the downtown areas of the towns that John mentioned, you will not see most of issues he brought to light in his pictures.

And maybe your neighbors wanted things that LI could not offer them, whicih you are confusing with "hiding".

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by iluvmycuties

Nancy,


I think John did say "hi" to one of them; hence, the peeing in the pants picture.

That's exactly right, the guy who wet his pants actually was blocking the door and I asked him to move and then he started harassing me. I have tried to communicate with them several times, but most of the time they dont speak english.
After going through what I went through in that place, I just dont want to deal with them anymore.

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Some of you may not understand why I dislike illegals so much. Maybe it's because I dealt with living in a building infested with them.

John. I know how angry you must be to see your own town taken over by outsiders , but please use a term other than "infested". These are people, after all. Have you ever tried to get to know any of them as people ? I am not saying to invite them to dinner, but just to say "hello".

I'm sorry it offends you, but to me it is a bad thing having all these men around causing problems. I lived in a building with them, and when they moved in a tried to say hello but I could not communicate with them since they didn't know any english. They seem to come in and think that I should be the one to learn spanish, when they are the ones that are supposed to adapt.
Yes, they are people not roaches, but they are people who are here illegally and have broken the law. On top of that they seem to have no desire to even become Americans. They believe this is their land and they want to take it from us. Take a look at the photo of the building across the street from where I lived and note the upside down US Flag. How can that NOT be hostile?

[Johninwestbury]

The schools are also an important issue. Westbury and New Cassel are in the same school district, and since most kids in the district are from New Cassel it really drags the schools down. The H.S. is actually located just across Jericho turnpike in the Village of Old Westbury.
An idea would be to merge Westbury SD with Carle Place SD and have New Cassel either form it's own district or merge with Hicksville.
Imagine if a time long ago if Roosevelt and Merrick were in the same school district, how do you think Merrick would've turned out? Probably not so good, right?
By removing New cassel from our district it would take alot of the "ghetto" out, property values in Westbury would get better as we would be grouped in with Carle Place schools instead.
The part of Westbury west of Ellison ave is more like Carle Place but goes to Westbury S.D., I guess most of the families there and West of Post have their kids go to private school. Its a real shame.
I know what would happen if the idea was proposed, and folks in New Cassel would be crying "racism". But why should Westbury S.D. be forced to be burdened by the New Cassel hamlet? Our village has its problems because we are too connected with New Cassel. By severing those ties, we have a chance to change our fate and not become a ghetto like New Cassel. Let New Cassel deal with their problems, they shouldn't be ours.

[llama8]

[quote=VillageOfWestbury;3985749]John,

I've driven through parts of Levittown that look like a step up from a trailer park. My impression was that it looked run-down and low rent. I'm sure; however, there are nicer sections and so I don't paint a one-sided picture. I've also driven through Wantagh and Massapequa and I didn't find anything there that made me feel like "Wow this is a step-up."

There is one particular section of Levittown that borders East Meadow that is mostly original Levitt homes. They are a bit small, but I don't think you can equate that with a trailer park. It is a bit rude as they are incomparable. Most of Levittown is very nice, expanded, and well kept. It is nothing like it used to be in the 80's. I am sure there is the occassional home that is a bit run-down, but you get that anywhere. I don't see any of that where I live. I see young families constantly improving their homes. I also see great school districts and basically no crime.

I had friends in Westbury while I was in High School in the late 1990's that we were not allowed by her parentsd to walk down their block because of gang activity (not New Cassel). I am sure that it is worse now. I have seen tons of the illegals in Westbury. (There are many all over Long Island, but Westbury does have a significant amount). You can tell by the bodegas and checks cashed places. I do like the Salisbury section, but honestly, I'm not too wild about the rest of it. Perhaps it is improving in some areas...as I do not want to judge too much. You can do much worse than Westbury (excluding New Cassel)

[Johninwestbury]

I grew up in N.Wantagh in the 80s and I felt perfectly safe. I know it was a little rougher down by Division ave but still nowhere as bad as parts of Westbury.
Yeah the schools had rowdy kids, but what schools don't? I didn't remember street gangs, grafitti,etc like here in Westbury.
As far as the trailer park comment I take offence at that, just because the houses were small doesn't mean they weren't well kept. Most ppl in Levittown did live more frugal lifestyles but by no means did they live like slobs. Levittown does look nicer in some spots but Hempstead turnpike has sufferred, IMO. The empty K-Mart is an eyesore. That K-Mart was busy, I remember back when it was T.S.S. and Food Town and we always went there for shopping.
Tri-County Flea market used to be nicer, now it's got more of a Queens feel. So I remember most of Levittown being better in the 80s. Still Levittown is far better than Westbury as a whole, even though the section of Westbury that's west of Post ave and North of the parkway does have nicer homes than Levittown.
As far as the Salisbury section of Westbury, yeah there's alot of Levitt homes there but I think its not as nice as it used to be, as the illegals are bleeding south from New cassel across Old Country road.
I can't imagine how cramped a Levitt flophouse must be!